FENNELL, Joseph William
| Service Number: | 614 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 August 1914, at Morphettville |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Charwelton, England , 19 January 1885 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Natural causes, Wattle Grove, Western Australia, Australia, 6 November 1963, aged 78 years |
| Cemetery: |
Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 614, 10th Infantry Battalion, at Morphettville | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 614, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 614, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Adelaide |
Help us honour Joseph William Fennell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Joseph William Fennell was born on the 19th of January, 1885 in England. He was born in the parish of Charwelton in Northamptonshire, and was an only child. He grew up in Charwelton, Northampton, West Byfield, Northamptonshire, England. Fennell was a natural born British subject, but in his life, took many adventures to places that would hold great dangers in which Fennell would display great bravery. Joseph and his father John Fennell migrated from England and settled down in South Australia. They lived in the Royal Oak Hotel on Hindley Street in Adelaide, S.A.
Before the war he worked hard as a labourer, rightfully earning each coin he made. Fennell respected the law and had never committed a felony throughout his life. He followed the Church of England’s religion and was a happily single man. Joseph lived quite a normal life, but what he did next took a great sacrifice, courage and bravery to serve his country in World War I. On the 27th of August 1914, Fennell enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force to fight in the war and do service abroad. Fennell gave his services in the intention of fighting for his country. He signed an oath swearing to serve their Sovereign Lord the King in the A.I.F. until the end of war, and so his journey began.
At the age of 29, Joseph William Fennell began his training as a soldier of the Australian Imperial Force. He was ranked as a driver on enlistment, given the service number 614 and his unit was the 10th Infantry Battalion B company. Although, through his time of service gained great respect and honour, getting promotions for his hard work and commitment to the A.I.F. From his enlistment rank as a driver, Fennell was then ranked as a Private before his first embarkation. On the 20th of October, 1914, Joseph’s unit embarked on their first operation from Adelaide on board the HMAT Ascanius A11 ship. In his time of service, Fennell demonstrated an immense amount of courage and strength in battle, as he served in several places such as Egypt, Gallipoli and the Western Front.
Joseph was wounded in battle on the 4th of May, 1915, in the foot, and was evacuated to Malta. He did not give up even through the pain, in order to serve his country. On the 24th of March, 1916, Fennell was transferred to the 1st Pioneer Battalion. Joseph’s hard work in the force was recognised as he was then promoted in ranking, from a Private to a Sergeant. His first role in the battalion was to dig trenches in preparation for battle. Fennell’s final position in the A.I.F. was as Sergeant Joseph William Fennell, in the 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion. Joseph received many medals to acknowledge his bravery, commitment and service in the A.I.F., earning the 1914-15 Star Medal, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.
Fennell served in France through most of the remainder of the war, rising up the ranks to Sergeant. Surviving the brutal war, Fennell luckily boarded a ship to return home to Australia on the 8th of October, 1918. Fennell was strong, surviving to tell the tale of his embarkations and adventures during his 4 years of service to the A.I.F during World War I. Joseph went on to live his life to the fullest. Later on, he met Winifred Maud, a beautiful young woman who he would fall in love with, spending the rest of their lives together.
Joseph and Winifred joyfully got married, and happily lived together. They were united side by side, now as Joseph William and Winifred Maud Fennell. Joseph and Winifred shared a home on Welshpool Rd. Wattle Grove, Western Australia. After a long fulfilled life spent with his soulmate, Fennell sadly passed away on the 6th of November, 1963. Although, Joseph died a peaceful death due to the natural cause of old age. He was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery. Joseph William Fennell left the world as a man of honour, courage, sacrifice, bravery, and love.